Climate change perceptions among nursing students: A comparative study between Finland and the United States

Introduction

Nurses play a key role in combating climate change-related health risks by promoting adaptation and mitigation strategies. Their efforts are essential in educating patients and communities about the health impacts of climate change and sustainable healthcare practices. Nursing curricula are evolving to include climate change and sustainability. The goal is to prepare future nurses to effectively address climate change factors affecting health and to support the transition towards more sustainable healthcare systems.

Aim

To study the perceptions of nursing students in Finland and the United States (U.S.) regarding climate change, focusing on their awareness and attitudes.

Design

A quantitative, cross-sectional study.

Method

In this study climate change awareness, concern, motivation, and behavior patterns of Finnish and U.S nursing students were surveyed and analyzed. Data were collected from an online survey using the Climate Health and Nursing Tool (CHANT). The data were collected from Finnish students (n = 351) from February to June 2023 and for comparison we examined data collected from U.S. (n = 352) in 2022. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS program.

Results

U.S. nursing students were found to have higher factor loadings, indicating a stronger connection between the measured factors and their related concepts compared to Finnish nursing students. Finnish students also received good factor loadings, but differences appeared in the correlations between awareness, concern, and motivation, and in the consistency of behavior at home and at work.

Conclusions

Findings from study indicate that U.S. students have higher overall awareness but weaker links between awareness and workplace behavior, whereas Finnish nursing students show more consistent behavior both personally and professionally. Nursing faculty could use this knowledge to engage nursing students in learning about the impact of climate change on human health and prepare future nurses to meet challenges of climate change on patient populations.